What is Ugly Glass?

About Us...

Ugly Glass & Company was created when opportunity knocked and Jenny and Skip Alexander opened its door.

Jenny & Skip have been selling their handmade jewelry at art and craft shows since 2002. Ugly Glass is the name created by Skip Alexander for his line of unique hand torched glass pendants and marbles as well as his metal art jewelry. It was such a catchy name that draws attention at art shows that they decided to continue using it when they opened their store front in 2012.

The ‘& Company’ was added in 2012 to include other artists work. Ugly Glass & Company now features over 40 artists from all over the USA.

In July 2014, they moved their store to a 100 + year old warehouse in the Historic West Bottoms in Kansas City, MO. They have grown their storefront from 700 square feet to over 7000 square feet in 3 years!

Previous Newspaper Articles...

Ugly Glass Has Never Been More Beautiful

It’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and “beholders” worldwide seem to agree that Skip Alexander’s “Ugly glass” is as beautiful as it is unique. Co-owner of Ugly Glass & Company, on the historic Independence square, Skip Alexander is the artisan behind the ugly glass. As unique as its ironic name, Ugly Glass, Alexander’s fused glass and lampwork adorns handcrafted jewelry.

Bitten by the “glassworking bug” in 2005, Skip began using a torch, glass rods & tubes, and an open flame to create lampwork pieces. Early lampworking, as its name suggests, was crafted using the flame of an oil lamp, with the artist blowing air into the flame through a pipe. Today, lampworking glass is shaped using meticulous hand movements and ﻿small, metal tools. Because of the precision and artistry involved in glasswork, even the creation of a tiny pendant can take over an hour. The glass Skip uses in this delicate, creative process is called Borosilicate glass. It is commonly referred to as “Boro.” Boro has a high melting point, about 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a piece is completed, it “soaks” in a kiln “bath” for about 24 hours and reaches a maximum temperature of 1400 degrees Fahrenheit.